I was going to write some half-baked post about comparing that beer to that other beer but I don't have the heart. I am a third of the way through and really enjoying How to Love Wine by Eric Asimov and he is still telling me about what isn't important. Blind tastings? Not that I do them but I didn't reject them because they favour stronger flavours. Did you know that? Tasting notes? Hilarious. I bet I have referenced figs too often, too.
But it does leave you unsettled. What is real? I suggested that the words we use for breweries had gone in the wrong direction and this week tried to right the ship. Then Jeff did. Then Max. Maybe 2013 is the year we take back the language from the trade association PR staff. Then Mark posted a wheel and soon there were wheels upon wheels. I don't want to take back the wheel. Unless I soon get to a chapter where Eric Asimov tells me to take back the wheel. Then I will think about it.
But then it gets to Friday and you think it is safe. Time for a beer. Just a beer. Or beer. But just that. Just beer. Then Martyn from somewhere it is already Saturday tells me (i) he is ticked off and (ii) let's loose with the real top 20 beers of influence of all time. He forgot the beer that Grok made in 4,789 BC - you know, the guy who invented beer? The guy whose hand we all want to shake? Fridays I always thank Grok. I am not sure that I agree with the list but I know now from Eric that knowing is not loving and I should not judge my preference for pleasure over knowledge. Yet... no Orval? Sure there are few copy cats... but is the meaning of influence limited to imitation? It's influenced me plenty, Orval has. Plenty.
Me, the most interesting thing I thought today was whether the hop Cluster is a landrace or the first North American hybrid. But no one's answered yet. Maybe that is the point. Isn't the question itself enough? Isn't it enough to know that Mr. B plays both the euphonium and maracas? What would Eric say?